Break the FCC's digital transition rules? That's a $6 million finin'
As seen previously, the FCC isn't scared to put the financial smackdown on anyone it finds not playing up to the rules of the digital transition, and has dropped about $6 million in fines on 11 companies. Several of the companies fined were retailers it says did not properly mark TVs that had only analog tuners and won't get OTA TV after it's shut off next year. Wal-Mart got dinged for $992k, $1.1 million went against Sears, $712k for Circuit City, $296k against Target and $280k against Best Buy. Syntax-Brillian was one of two companies that caught a charge for importing TVs without a digital tuner after the deadline, two more were fined for V-chip violations, while Panasonic and Philips were among seven others that settled to avoid fines. That probably won't cover all those $40 coupons, but it can't hurt.[Via Zatz Not Funny & Cable Digital News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Seth A @ Apr 11th 2008 2:43AM
Good, I am glad to see a government agency enforce their rules. It's only good news to the consumers.
Big Wizz @ Apr 11th 2008 9:58AM
Who knew that Kevin Martin knew how to lay the smak down??
Is this really the same agency that basically let AT&T grow back into the behemoth that is was back in 1984?
MrUmbra @ Apr 11th 2008 1:04PM
Is this old news? A similar story was reported about a year ago.
peetah @ Apr 11th 2008 2:59PM
Maybe that'll get them to hire more employees that know something about the products. Once in a while you'll get one that knows his/her stuff and isn't trying to push you into buying just anything but that's rare.
dogget @ Apr 25th 2008 11:47AM
Thats a whole lot of money, for messing up some finer points.